Chapter 9·Handkerchief

After receiving Chuntao's advice, Mrs. Huang went to the stove in person and carefully finalized the dishes with the kitchen stewardess. In the evening, Bai Rongxuan, Tang Xueli and Tang Xueru all went to the courtyard where Tang Xueping lived.

The second-bedroom house of the Tang family is not that big. As the eldest sister, Tang Xueping naturally lives in the small courtyard at the far end. The layout of the room is also the same as hers, simple and clean, with no extraneous furnishings. There is a flower planted in the corner of the courtyard.

There was a plum tree, and several large porcelain jars were placed under the eaves, with water lilies and goldfish in them. Tang Xueping had heard the news long ago and stood at the door to greet them personally.

As soon as they exchanged a few words of affection, Cuiping took Chuntao and Sanxi and put the food on the table. Huang was attentive and not only prepared Bai Rongxuan's favorite fish soup with lotus leaves, Tang Xueping's favorite Longjing shrimps, and Tang Xueru's favorite Shuangshui.

For the flavored chicken, Tang Xueli also made Tang Xueli’s favorite water shield soup. This soup is very particular about the ingredients and requires time and effort, so it is very time-consuming to make.

Tang Xueli was so grateful that her eyes were red.

Bai Rongxuan remembered that in her last life, she heard Mr. Huang say that Ms. Zhang was a good cook during her lifetime, and her specialty was water shield soup. Seeing Tang Xueli's appearance, Bai Rongxuan knew that she must be thinking of her late mother.

Since the elders didn't bother, and there was Tang Xueru who could make a lot of noise on the table, they were laughing and joking, and they forgot about the so-called eating without talking and sleeping without talking. Bai Rongxuan was also amused and laughed non-stop, holding the edge of the table and rubbing her hands.

Amidst the laughter, she suddenly thought of herself in her previous life. When she was in Shanghai, she was crying all day long. When she arrived in Tianjin, she was helpless and despairing. When she arrived in Peiping, she was like a dead tree. She had already lost everything.

She was indifferent, neither happy nor angry, and lived in a depressing atmosphere all day long. Speaking of which, it had been a long time since she had laughed so wildly.

Even Tang Xueping, who didn't talk much on weekdays, became more talkative. After the meal, she cleared the table and gave gifts she had prepared in advance to several sisters, all of which were handkerchiefs embroidered by her. Tang Xueli's handkerchiefs

It was embroidered with wintersweet, Tang Xueru's handkerchief was embroidered with hibiscus, but Bai Rongxuan's handkerchief only had a few jade-green grasses embroidered on it.

Simple, plain, yet full of vitality.

Bai Rongxuan was stunned after receiving the handkerchief, and raised her head to look at Tang Xueping with some confusion.

Tang Xueping was also looking at her, their eyes met, and Tang Xueping smiled gently at her.

Bai Rongxuan held the handkerchief tightly, and in Sister Ping's smile, she seemed to understand the meaning of the grass on the handkerchief. It grew in the dark, unnoticed, unnoticed, but perseverant and grew toward the sun, and the wind could not blow it.

It's true that the rain can't kill her. One day, she will bloom beautiful flowers, right?

She stood up slowly and thanked Tang Xueping very sincerely.

Tang Xueping was thin-skinned and blushed when Bai Rongxuan thanked her. She didn't say anything more and turned the conversation elsewhere. Cuiping came in to refill the tea, and several people talked for a while. Chuntao came in and reported, "Miss Li, the carriage is waiting for you.

We’re here, waiting at the door.”

Because she was going out with the Xiang family, Tang Xueli did not bring her maid. She looked at the time and stood up hurriedly, "Is it already this time? It's time for me to go back, and I'll come over to see you another day." There was also a Xiang family above her.

Everyone knew that she was embarrassed at home and did not dare to stay any longer. Bai Rongxuan and others personally took her to the door and watched her get on the carriage before going back to their rooms.

Bai Rongxuan returned to the room and washed her face under the service of Wu Ma. She asked about her mother's condition and found out that Tang went to bed early that day. Bai Rongxuan carefully put away the handkerchief given by Tang Xueping and took advantage of the opportunity.

Still not feeling sleepy, he started talking to Wu’s mother, “How is your son doing in the country?”

"It's... pretty good," Wu Ma said evasively.

Bai Rongxuan simply exposed her lie, "Didn't you say that your sister-in-law was not good to him? She even made her sleep in the cowshed in the cold weather, didn't give him food, and made him do the most painful and tiring work.

live."

When Wu's mother heard this, her tears immediately fell. She cried and said, "Leave my son there. I also know that he will not have a good life living with others. But he is a young man and will have to endure some hardships."

It’s okay to feel a little wronged, just treat it as an experience. But I didn’t expect that my cruel sister-in-law actually treated him like an animal. When I went back, the weather was still cold, and my sister-in-law only gave my son a single piece of clothing to wear. When the child saw me,

He was shaking non-stop, and there was no good spot on his body. He was covered in bruises and bruises. I asked him how he did it, and he said that he fell while working in the field. I didn't believe it, so I pulled him secretly and asked, and he told me

I said it was my uncle and sister-in-law who beat me. Every day when the rooster crows, they ask my son to get up and do some work. If he dares to be late, he will be beaten with a bamboo stick. Not only that, they don’t give him anything to eat during the Chinese New Year.

After a full meal, I went to my uncle and sister-in-law to reason with me. They also said that I was troublesome, and if I felt sorry for my son, I would just keep him with me. They would no longer want to raise him."

When Bai Rongxuan heard this, she followed her words and asked, "Then you never thought about taking him with you?"

"I..." Wu Ma said bitterly, "I am also a servant, how can I bring him here?"

Bai Rongxuan asked again, "What is your son's name? How old is he this year?"

Wu's mother sobbed and said, "My name is Wu Jie. He is nineteen this year. He is one year older than Brother Zhi."

Bai Rongxuan smiled and said, "This name is very nice. Who gave it to me? Your husband?"

As if thinking of her husband who died young, Wu Ma's face flashed with a trace of uncomfortable nostalgia, "He is a farmer, farming is okay, how can he do such a thing as giving birth to Jie'er?"

Son, there happens to be a storyteller who is good at telling stories in our countryside. Our family likes to listen to that stuff. When we are not busy, we go to the big elm tree at the entrance of the village to listen to the story. We often invite the storyteller to our house.

We came to our family for tea, and over time we got to know each other well. The storyteller heard that our Jie’er didn’t have a proper name yet, and was calling him “Little Maozi, Little Maozi” all day long, so he gave him such a famous name, saying that he hoped that he would be innocent.

Go ahead, be a broad-minded person."

No grudges...

Easier said than done?

Bai Rongxuan thought about how she had never let go of her hatred and care for the Bai family in her two lives, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. Perhaps the belief that supported her survival was to pay the due price for the Bai family, right? Although she also knew her own strength.

How small...

Thinking of this, Bai Rongxuan suddenly thought of her brother Bai Xiuzhi. In his previous life, he studied so hard and wanted to make some achievements. Was it to show off to the Bai family?

Wu Ma wiped away her tears and saw that Bai Rongxuan was in a daze. She sighed and said, "Miss, don't worry, he is a boy. Suffering some hardships will only benefit him in his life. Only by suffering, can he realize that happiness is hard to come by."

Only then can I have the energy to strive upward.”

Bai Rongxuan came back to her senses, "But if it continues like this, it's not a long-term solution. It would be great if we could get him to work in the Tang family. You mother and son don't have to separate, they will be taken care of nearby, and you don't have to worry about him anymore."

Bai Rongxuan thought that Wu's mother would be very happy with her suggestion, but she didn't expect that Wu's mother would actually shout in panic, "Miss, this is absolutely impossible!"

This surprised Bai Rongxuan.

Wu Ma hurriedly explained, "There are many servants in the Tang family. If one comes one by one, how can there be room to accommodate them? Besides, who has no children and grandchildren, Grandma Li and Mother Cui? If we set this precedent, there will be no room for them in the future."

It’s easy to control, even Mrs. Tang won’t agree to it, so don’t do it.”

Seeing that she was planning for herself, Bai Rongxuan looked a little flustered. She quickly comforted her and said, "Don't be nervous. I just said casually that you can't rush this matter. Naturally, you have to wait for the right opportunity."

Wu Ma still shook her head, with a very firm attitude, "I know the lady means well and feels sorry for me and my son, but you can't just eat from the bowl and look at what's in the pot. It's God's blessing that I can work in the Tang family, and I don't dare to do it anymore.

I have no other extravagant wishes."

Bai Rongxuan knew that Wu Ma was afraid that others would think that she was not doing her duty well because she had to visit Shu. Besides, this matter could not be solved overnight. We had to find a suitable time. She simply stopped talking and asked about Wu Ma, "

You are my mother's dowry maid, how could you marry Wu Jie's father?" Generally speaking, as a personal maid of the Tang family, even if she does not marry a shopkeeper or a servant of the Tang family, she should still be in the Bai family's family.

Choose someone with a reliable identity among your servants.

Wu Ma's face turned red, and she said with rare coyness, "Before I went to the Tang family to work, I lived in the countryside. He was from my aunt's village. I often went to my aunt's house to help when the farming was busy. I met him.

He met him several times, and later, through the help of my aunt, we got engaged. Who would have thought that not long after, my father drowned when he went fishing with others in the river. Our family lost its main source of income. As the eldest son, I

There were younger brothers and sisters to support, so I had to go out to work. It was a coincidence that the maid who was serving the madam was sick, and her family wanted to take her back for treatment. The old lady thought that I was of the right age, so she bought me back.

.”

What a coincidence, Bai Rongxuan was listening very carefully with her chin propped up on the side.

Seeing this, Wu Ma continued, "When my family heard that I arrived in Hangzhou, they thought I was not going back, so they rushed over anxiously. He stayed here for more than a year, moving goods for others, because

He was honest and hard-working, and was highly appreciated by his employer. However, there was still a lot of land at home, so he went back after staying for a while. I worked in the Tang family for two years, and when I reached the right age, my wife returned to the old lady.

He asked me to go home and get married, and gave me a lot of things as a dowry. However, within a few years, my wife died, and I had a difficult life as a woman with my children in the countryside. Later, the village chief came forward to take care of me.

My son was sent to his uncle's house to live, so I came to Hangzhou City again to find a job as an old lady. It happened that the young lady was going to marry into the Bai family. I thought I would come over and kowtow no matter what. When the old lady learned that I had given birth,

From now on, the young lady will have someone to take care of her when she has children, so let me follow the young lady to Shanghai as a dowry."

So that’s it.

Bai Rongxuan wanted to ask again, but Wu Ma was worried that she was still thinking about her son, so she hurriedly comforted her a few words, and then used the excuse that it was getting late and asked her to rest early.

Bai Rongxuan was also a little tired and closed her eyes obediently.

After that, Bai Rongxuan's life consisted of attending classes with Mrs. Shen in the morning, and returning to her room in the afternoon to embroider the pillowcase she was going to give to Tang Xueping. After a period of time, when the weather got hotter, her uncles Tang Songzhou and Tang Xuexuan began to discuss the Dragon Boat Festival dragon boat race.

Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, the Chamber of Commerce in Hangzhou organizes a dragon boat race. In addition to the drum head, there are 32 scratchers on each dragon boat. Unless it is a very large shop, few families can gather so many. people, so many shops will join together. Dragon boat racing has the meaning of praying for blessings and collecting wealth. Every shop will be particularly interested in this activity, especially now that business is getting harder and harder, and everyone wants a good omen.

Bai Rongxuan thought that the Dragon Boat Festival was coming soon, and her mother should have prepared the things to send to her brother, so she sent two purses embroidered by herself to her mother's room. Who knew that her mother was not there, and she found out after asking Wu's mother She was called over by her grandmother.

Bai Rongxuan left the purse and asked Ma Wu to put it away, and put it in it when her mother gave her brother something. Seeing that the purse was very delicately embroidered, with the words 'Peace' written on it, Ma Wu smiled and said, " Miss is also interesting. When others give their brother a gift, they will embroider a picture of being named on the gold medal and immediately becoming a marquis, looking forward to the future. You are different, as long as the young master is safe, everything will be fine. You are worried about the young master."

Bai Rongxuan thought to herself that she didn't care about her brother's future development at all in this life, as long as he lived a safe life, that was enough. She smiled and went directly to Mrs. Tang's yard without saying anything to Mrs. Wu. Who knew that something would happen? When she entered the door, she saw Mrs. Tang holding a letter in her hand and tears in her eyes. Bai Rongxuan was startled. She thought something happened to her brother in Nanjing, and her voice changed her tone, "What's wrong with grandma? Is something wrong?" What happened?"

"It's okay, don't be afraid! There are only a few people in the family, what can happen?" Mrs. Huang hurriedly stepped forward to comfort her, "Your grandmother is so happy." Then she said to Mrs. Tang helplessly, " Look, Rongxuan was frightened. This is a good thing. Why are you still crying?"

Bai Rongxuan was a little confused about the situation, but instinctively felt that the matter had something to do with her brother, and looked at Tang nervously.

Seeing her daughter like this, Mrs. Tang smiled and explained, "It's nothing really. Your cousin from the Dong family is coming to visit your grandmother in a while. Your grandmother hasn't seen her for many years. She doesn't say anything, but she is thinking about her in her heart. I heard that your Dong family is My cousin was coming over and she was so excited that she came crying."

Cousin from the Dong family?

Dong Yuluo's bright and moving face immediately flashed in Bai Rongxuan's mind.
Chapter completed!